NASA Deep Space Food Challenge | AIR COMPANY

We’re proud to announce that AIR COMPANY is the winner of NASA’s Deep Food Space Challenge. It turns out that transforming an abundantly available feedstock such as carbon dioxide into something useful is just as valuable in deep space as it is on Earth. For the winning entry, we used our AIRMADE™ Technology to develop a carbon-derived single-cell protein, which can be used as food for astronauts during extraordinarily long journeys, such as flights to Mars. Our method begins by using water electrolysis to split water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. From there, the hydrogen from the water electrolyzer is combined with carbon dioxide over catalysts to produce alcohols and water, which are diluted and combined with nitrogen and other minerals. Finally, microbes are added to consume the alcohol, creating a single-cell protein with the consistency of whey protein. The same process can create more carbohydrate-heavy substitutes for bread, pasta and tortillas. Our technology has the potential to make a meaningful impact on the world and create a more sustainable future for all. We’re excited to see where our continued partnership and experimentation with NASA takes us, both on and off Earth. #AIRCOMPANY